WE ARE MIAMI 2015

Press Release: MBF WE ARE MIAMI 2015 event raises $256,000 in support of City of Miami minority businesses and education.

Date: October 26, 2015

Media Contact:

Linda Theander-Adam

Linda@192.186.227.164

MIAMI, Fla. – On October 21, 2015, the MBF (MBF) hosted its annual WE ARE MIAMI event at the Idea Center at Miami Dade College, Miami’s new hub for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Close to 300 individuals attended the event including MBF’s sponsors, supporters, partners, and loan and scholarship recipients. City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and City of Miami Commissioners Willy Gort, Keon Hardemon, and Frank Carollo also joined the celebration.The event raised more than $256,000 in support of City of Miami minority businesses and education.

Amongst those in attendance were eighteen City of Miami small business owners, who have received loans and technical assistance from MBF and many scholarship recipients. The small business owners showcased their companies and offered everything from savory bacon treats (Miami Smokers); delicious coffee (Panther Coffee); cupcakes and gourmet sweets by Sugar Yummy Mama,The Pastry Shop By Magic City Chefs, and Bunnie Cakes; to haircuts and fashionable shaves by ChopShop. The attendees also had the opportunity to make their own bracelets using 3D printing techniques with Moonlighter, a cutting-edge Miami makerspace and one of MBF’s most recent loan recipients. See below for a full list of loan recipients that showcased their businesses at the WE ARE MIAMI 2015 event.

While mingling with MBF’s awardees, partners, and sponsors, the attendees enjoyed music from the Magic City Hippies and foods from MBF’s caterer and sponsor DaFlo.

The City of Miami Commissioner Willy Gort presented a check of $203,094 to fund a new scholarship program in partnership with MBF (click here for more information about the MBF/Commissioner Willy Gort Scholarship). The students from FMU and FIU moved the audience with their speeches about how their scholarships from MBF have helped them in pursuing their education and goals.

MBF aims to advance the City of Miami through supporting small businesses and education through the creation and administration of loan programs for minority businesses, through the creation of programs and educational scholarships for minorities, and by providing technical assistance to small businesses and local organizations engaged in economic development. The funds raised at the event will be allocated to provide additional loans to small businesses and scholarship opportunities for City of Miami students in 2016.

A City of Miami-based nonprofit established in 1986, MBF has awarded 507 scholarships to City of Miami minority students attending Miami Dade College, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade Public High Schools, and technical colleges including D.A. Dorsey, Lindsey Hopkins, and George T. Baker Aviation. In the last four years is has also awarded forty-two loans to minority-owned businesses that have helped create more than 175 jobs in the City of Miami, and created partnerships that have helped train more than 100 City of Miami minority business owners.